Sealable commode



Ma 20, 1969 G. A. GORDON, JR 3,444,563

SEALABLE COMMODE Filed May 16, 1967 Sheet of 5 IN VE N TOR GLENN AGORDOMJR.

ATT RNE May 20, 1969 A. GORDON, JR-

SEALABLE COMMODE Sheet Filed May 16, 1967 INVENTOI? 6L 6 NN A. GORDON, JR.

BYW W 4770/? EYS y 1969 G. A. GORDON, JR 3,444,563

SEALA BLE COMMODE Filed May 16, 1967 I Sheet 3 0f 3 IN VENTOR 6L E/V/V .4. GORDON, JR.

ar M/ M ATTOR EYS United States Patent 3,444,563 SEALABLE COMMODE Glenn A. Gordon, Jr., Rte. 1, Thurmont, Md. 21788 Filed May 16, 1967, ser. N0. 638,786 Int. Cl. A47k 11/02 US. Cl. 4142 11 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A portable and sealable commode having sidewalls of a lightweight material such as corrugated cardboard of sufficient laminations to support a human body. The side walls and a covering thereabout form a chamber through which there is a top opening. A neck member is insertable through said opening and carries a specimen bag at its lower end. The neck member is supported by a flange extending out over said sidewalls. A handled lid is thread'ably received in the neck and seals the specimen bag.

This invention relates to a container for hazardous biological or chemical specimen and more particularly relates to a portable commode which will handle such substances. Presently used bedpans or portable commodes are deficient in several respects. Glass containers present the problem of breakage. in addition to the expense of breakage, it it occurs during the routine utilization and handling of the biological specimens, a dangerous transmission of infection is possible. Metallic bedpans although durable are expensive and many times when chipped or the like are difiicult to clean.

This invention provides the art with a relatively inexpensive disposable commode which has adequate safeguards against container breakage or spillage during the routine utilization and transporting of the hazardous biological specimens contained therein.

A further objective of this invention is to assure integrity of construction so as to allow the casual handling of the container with a reasonable assurance that spillage or a disruption of any kind will not omur. Additionally, the container is designed to allow the minimum contamination during visual inspection or sampling of the stored substances.

It is a further objective of this invention to preserve the above-identified objectives with a container which is very inexpensive and which can be discarded or destroyed after use without any serious financial burden on the using party.

Another important objective of this invention is to provide a portable commode in which the sidewalls are comprised of a plurality of laminated corrugations having great strength against compression but are extremely light weight. This construction is used in combination with a lid assembly which has a flange member extending over said corrugations so that a weight placed upon said opening will be transmitted to the corrugated sidewalls. The invention further provides a handle in combination with the lid means whereby the entire container can be easily transported from location to location.

The invention further provides a lid combination which carries a liquid-proof plastic bag at its lower end which is easily insertable through the outer walls of the corn mode but carries means by which the entire combination of plastic bag and outer container is easily transportable.

These and other objects of the invention will become more apparent to those skilled in the art by reference to the following detailed description when viewed in light of the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of the invention;

3,444,553 Patented May 20, 1969 FIGURE 2 is an exploded view with the lid portion removed;

FIGURE 3 is a sectional view along the line 33 of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 4 is a plan view of a carton blank which envelopes and provides the cover for the invention;

FIGURE 5 is a blank which carries the corrugated sidewalls;

FIGURE 6 is an elevation view of FIGURE 5; and

FIGURE 7 is an exploded perspective showing the invention prior to assembly.

Referring now to the drawings wherein like elements are indicated by like numerals, the numeral 10 indicates the portable commode of this invention. The lcomrnode is generally rectangular in shape and has a top surface or panel 12 which is formed with an opening 14 therein. Disposed in opening 14 is a pla-sticthroated support member 16. The support member is basically comprised of an interiorally threaded neck 18 and an upper, outwardly extending annular flange 20. As seen best in FIGURE 3, when support member 16 is disposed in opening 14, the neck portion 1 8 is below the panel and the flange 20 extends a substantial distance outwardly beyond the periphery of the opening 14.

The panel 1 2 is a portion of a larger blank 22 which includes a bottom 24, a back 26, a front panel 28 having a tab 28a, side panels 30 and 32 and second halftop panels 34 and 36. A tab 24a extends outwardly from bottom 24 and a slot 25 is formed therebetween. The halfpanels 34 and 36 are suitably grooved at 38 and 40 to form an opening co-extensive with openings 14 when the blank is in its enveloping position. The manner in which this is accomplished is easily understood with reference to FIGURE 7.

The primary strength of the commode is provided by interior sidewalls 42, 44 and 46. These sidewalls are first adhesively secured to a bottom panel 48 and then folded to their upright positions to thus form a U-shaped chamber 50 therebetween. As seen in either FIGURE 6 or 7, the sidewalls are comprised of a plurality of light weight corrugated cardboard laminations which, as those skilled in the art will recognize, are extremely resistant to compressive deformation. This resistance to compressive deformation is especially great when the weight is spread over the entire upper surface as it will be in practice. After the sidewalls are folded to their vertical positions as shown in FIGURE 7, the envelope blank 22 encloses the chamber 50 as best seen in EFIG- UR E 7. The flaps 34 and 36 are folded across the upper surfaces of the interior sidewalls and the front flap is brought over the front edges of sidewalls 42 and 44 and the flap 28a is inserted into the slot 52. It should be noted that the flange 20 extends over the upper surfaces of the interior walls 42, 44 and 46. A two-ply layer (half panels 34 and 36 and the top panel 1 2) are disposed between the flange 20 and the upper surfaces of the sidewalls.

A lid having a threaded periphery 62 is threadably received in the threaded neck of member 18. The lid 60 includes an outwardly directed annular flange 64, which sealingly engages the upper surface of flange 20 when the cover is fully received by the neck 18. The upper surface of the lid is formed with a depression 66. A handle member 68 spans this depression. The handle member 68 can be utilized to carry the assembled structure and to rotate the lid into the throated support member.

Referring back to FIGURE 3, it can be seen that the outer periphery of the neck portion 18 is formed with a pair of grooves 70 and 72. The groove 70 receives a resilient O-ring 76 and the groove 72 is for the reception of an annular resilient O-ring 78. A liquid-proof plastic bag 80 has its upper end disposed about the neck portion and the resilient ring 78 grasps the bag 80 therebetween and to secure it securely to the neck portion 18.

The O-ring 76 is utilized to secure the panel 12 and the flaps 34 and 36 securely between itself and the flange 20. This provides a means by which the entire container can be carried by way of the handle. The lid is also prescored at 81 so that samplings can be taken from this orifice when punched inwardly.

The blank 22 and the blank 48 with its corrugated structural members are readily folded into the positions shown by FIGURE 3 and FIGURE 7. The lid 60 is removed from the container as a unit and a plastic bag 80 is secured to the lower end of the neck portion 18 by the O-ring 76. The entire lid assembly 82 with the bag 80 is then gently forced through the opening 14. This is easily accomplished because of the ease with which the cardboard top panels are deformed together with the easy deformation of the O-ring 76. By tilting the lid assembly slightly it can be secured to the remainder of the assembly. The lid 60 is then removed and the unit can be used as a portable commode. After use, the plastic lid 60 is screwed tightly into the threaded neck 18 until its flange 64 securely engages the flange 20. The contents within bag 80 are then sealed from the atmosphere. Although the O-ring 76 will resist a rotation of the member 16 so that a tight fit can be insured, this resistance can be increased by putting a slight finger pressure on the upper surface of the flange 20 which flange has a greater diameter than flange 64.

In order to insure a pneumatic seal, the flange 64 has a bottom bevel at 90 and the flange 20 has an inner mating flange 92. Also note by the dotted lines in FIGURE 4 that stabilizing struts 94 and 96 can be utilized where necessary. When the blank is folded, the struts will extend across and be parallel to the back 26.

In a general manner, while I have, in the above description, disclosed what I deem to be a practical and eflicient embodiment of my invention, it should be well understood that I do not wish to be limited thereto, as there might be changes made in the arrangement, disposition, and form of the parts without departing from the principle of the present invention as comprehended within the scope of the accompanying claims.

I claim:

1. A portable and disposable commode unit comprising vertical sidewalls forming a chamber therebetween said sidewalls being of a material resistant to vertical compression, and said sidewalls terminating in upper surfaces falling in a common plane, a top panel extending over said top surfaces and having a central opening over said chamber, a neck member extending partially downwardly into such said chamber, a flange at one end of said neck member extending outwardly therefrom and supported on said panel when said neck member is inserted into said chamber through said opening, said neck member having a threaded interior opening, a lid having threads on its periphery mating with said interior threads of said neck member, a second outwardly extending flange at one end of said lid engageable with said first flange when said lid is threaded into said neck, means to secure said neck member to said top panel, a waterproof bag, and second means to secure said bag to the downwardly extending portion of said neck member.

2. The commode recited in claim 1 wherein said means is an annular resilient O-ring about said neck having an exterior periphery greater than the interior periphery of said opening.

3. The commode recited in claim 2 wherein said O- ring engages the lower surface of said top panel.

4. The commode recited in claim 1 wherein said second means is a second resilient O-ring for reception into a groove about the outer surface of said neck member and the open end of said bag is secured between said O-ring and said groove.

5. The commode recited in claim 1 wherein a relatively small segment of said lid is scored whereby breaking said score a sampling orifice into said bag is developed.

6. The commode recited in claim 1 wherein a handle is formed in the upper surface of said lid.

7. The commode recited in claim 1 wherein said flange extends over at least a portion of said sidewalls.

8. The commode recited in claim 1 wherein said side walls are comprised of a plurality of layers of corrugated material.

9. The commode recited in claim 8 wherein said flange extends over at least some of said layers.

10. The commode recited in claim 1 wherein said top panel is a portion of a foldable blank which envelops said sidewalls.

11. The commode recited in claim 8 wherein a portion of the circumference of said flange extends over each of said layers.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,197,786 9/1916 Beach 4-137 2,514,537 7/1950 Cullum 4-111 2,776,438 1/1957 Zeraffa 4-134 2,893,017 7/1959 Beck 4-135 2,912,702 11/1959 Mackenzie 4-135 3,001,206 9/1961 Strehlke 4-116 3,002,194 10/1961 Wuest 4-142 3,077,608 2/1963 Renje 4-142 3,118,146 1/1964 Dorey 4-137 3,159,848 12/1964 Arndt 4-135 3,319,263 5/1967 Udden et al. 4-112 LAVERNE D. GEIGER, Primary Examiner.

HENRY K. ARTIS, Assistant Examiner.

US. Cl. X.R. 4-135 

